In the second stage, forceful, straining contractions begin. The cat may lie on her side or chest, or she may squat. The first kitten should emerge within 30 minutes and subsequent kittens should be born at intervals of 15 to 30 minutes. There may be fluid if the amniotic sac ruptures on the way out. If the sac is intact, the mother will tear it herself, sever the umbilical cord, clean and groom the kitten and perhaps nurse it while waiting to give birth to the next one. The kittens are born blind, nearly deaf and helpless: Their mother's care is essential. If she is doing a good job by herself, has groomed and is nursing the kittens, don't interfere. Anxious mothers, especially first-timers, have been known to abandon their kittens in favor of attention from their owners, so keep her calm and reassured. What the mother and her newborns need most right now is a warm, dark, quiet and secluded nest — no external stress. Visually examine the kittens for defects and to make sure they are healthy, but do this without being intrusive; a worried mother will want to move her nest to a safer location. Then, leave the family alone for a few days, keeping other animals away as well.
What if nature doesn't take a smooth course? Get ready, you will have to pitch in as midwife, and you should be prepared to contact your vet at any time.
- If after a minute following the birth of a kitten the mother hasn't ruptured the amniotic sac, cut it yourself.
- If she hasn't severed the umbilical cord within a few minutes, tie it off with dental floss or strong thread about an inch or a little more from the kitten's abdomen. Then, cut the cord between the knot and the placenta. Dip the end of the cord in povidone-iodine to prevent infection.
- If the kitten is not breathing or is squirming very weakly, wrap it in a towel and use a baby's nose-suction bulb to suck the mucus out of its nose and mouth. Then, to get breathing started, give the kitten a gentle massage, covering it with a towel.
- Contact your vet if you have trouble with any of this or if there are any other complications. These may include: the first stage of labor (where the mother is acting restless, licking her chest and genitals and frequently visiting the nesting area) continuing for six hours with no change; no kitten emerging or a green, black or bloody discharge after two hours of strong contractions; continued straining with no results more than an hour after delivering a kitten; or if a placenta is not delivered for every kitten.
- After birthing, get veterinary help if the mother cat is bleeding; if she has a colored, white or foul-smelling discharge; if she seems restless or feverish; or if she doesn't want to eat or to let her kittens suckle immediately.